The Samurai and the Prisoner
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 18+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
A slow, serious samurai mystery about a lord who comes to see that power and an 'honorable' death are not worth the blood they cost. Critics praise it, and its turn against senseless killing is a real good. The reservation: salvation is framed in Buddhist talk of paradise and hell, left without comment. Almost no content reporting exists yet, so this verdict is provisional.
For parents
For adults who like slow films: 147 minutes, subtitled. Murders and war deaths occur, shown with restraint according to the director; other content is unverified. The real Kuroda Kanbei was later baptized Simeon, then gave up the faith under persecution in 1587. Ask: what is true peace? Where does salvation come from, and who gives it?